One of the major questions in evolutionary biology is to
understand how species have adapted to different environments
and how the underlying changes in morphology,
physiology and behavior relate to modifications in the
corresponding genes. The publication of the first
crustacean genome sequence, that of Daphnia pulex
[1,2], is part of an effort by the members of the Daphnia
Genome Consortium to establish Daphnia as a model
system for evolutionary environmental genomics. But
can Daphnia rise to the challenge?
The vast number of publications on Daphnia in the
literature prove that this animal is no newcomer to
scientific research. Daphnia is most probably one of the
best-studied subjects in ecology [3]. Populations can be
found in freshwater environments ranging from huge
lakes to small temporary pools and seasonally flooded
depressions. The ecology of Daphnia has been studied
from the point of view of its role as a primary consumer
in aquatic food chains, its phenotypic plasticity, and its
behavior, toxicology and the evolution of sexual and
asexual reproduction. Extensive studies on the population
genetics of Daphnia have addressed migration and
gene flow, hybridization and inbreeding, among other
One of the major questions in evolutionary biology is tounderstand how species have adapted to different environmentsand how the underlying changes in morphology,physiology and behavior relate to modifications in thecorresponding genes. The publication of the firstcrustacean genome sequence, that of Daphnia pulex[1,2], is part of an effort by the members of the DaphniaGenome Consortium to establish Daphnia as a modelsystem for evolutionary environmental genomics. Butcan Daphnia rise to the challenge?The vast number of publications on Daphnia in theliterature prove that this animal is no newcomer toscientific research. Daphnia is most probably one of thebest-studied subjects in ecology [3]. Populations can befound in freshwater environments ranging from hugelakes to small temporary pools and seasonally floodeddepressions. The ecology of Daphnia has been studiedfrom the point of view of its role as a primary consumerin aquatic food chains, its phenotypic plasticity, and itsbehavior, toxicology and the evolution of sexual andasexual reproduction. Extensive studies on the populationgenetics of Daphnia have addressed migration andgene flow, hybridization and inbreeding, among other
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